Ina Allen is a music director and the mastermind behind the Music and Narrative website, where she aims to combine words and music together in a harmonious way. Her most recent album, Sunday Morning Reflections, attempts this by combining Scripture reading with old hymns and modern classics. Each of the 20 tracks opens with a reading by Glen Allen and immediately proceeds into a solo piano rendition of a popular song. These tunes come from hymnals (like "Amazing Grace," "Fairest Lord Jesus," and "For the Beauty of the Earth") to songs that are probably still getting radio airplay from time to time (such as "We Fall Down" or "The Heart of Worship"). Such instrumental renditions are a dime a dozen, but Allen's approach does feel fresh. By opening with a Scripture reading, it draws the listener to meditate on that Bible verse while a familiar tune serves as a musical backdrop (the opening verse to "We Fall Down" felt a little out of place, though). Allen's skills on the ivory keys are very evident in every track, at times prompting me to compare her style with that of the late Rich Mullins. Her adaptations of these classics also ring true to their original forms, with enough of the original melodies mixed with some of Allen's improvisations. The chorus on "Agnus Dei" didn't seem timed right, but that's a minor critique compared to the larger body of work. It is a large body. Twenty tracks is a daunting weight for any album, and by the end, the tracks start to run together. Sunday Morning Reflections is probably best taken in small doses or used as background music while getting ready for church. Still, Ina Allen has crafted a worthy album that fans of contemplative instrumental music can enjoy.

- Review date: 9/18/24, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com